This post provides some information for people who have been resident in Italy since before Brexit.
Carta di Soggiorno?
For those who missed it, the carta di soggiorno (CdS) is a residence card created for British citizens who were resident in Italy before Brexit. It is not mandatory to have one (unlike the permesso di soggiorno for other foreign residents) but it is the best evidence of your rights under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. It is also essential to be exempt from EES and ETIAS when travelling in and out of the Shengen area.
There is a short glossary at the end of this page, explaining some of the terms used.
If you have been resident in Italy for more than 5 years (which is now everyone who is eligible for the CdS) then you should get a carta di soggiorno permanente. Note that the “permanent” status applies to you (and comes with some extra rights) not the card. The card is valid for 10 years.
Some people have been told by their questura, quite forcefully, that “there is no such thing as a permanent card.” This may be due to confusion with the old permesso di tempo indeterminato that people used to have (this became obsolete many years ago). If there is any argument about this, maybe just make sure you will get a 10 year card, and don’t stress the “permanent” bit.
What do I require to get a CdS?
The requirements for applying for the CdS are defined in the vademecum (available in Italian and English).
A few extra points:
- You can get a red, pre-printed bolletino from the post office for the €30.46 payment. (They may have these loose or you might need to get the whole permesso di soggiorno pack, and just use the bolletino for payment.) This is preferred as it has a barcode that the questura can scan. Note that the wording for the causale is slightly different from the vademecum, but that doesn’t matter: the bank account is the same, and that’s the important bit.
- If applying for a “permanent” card you will probably be asked for proof of 5 years residence.
- In most cases a certificato di residenza storico should be sufficient. If you have moved in that period, you will need one from each comune where you were resident.
- You can also get an attestazione di soggiorno permanente from your comune. They may ask for evidence that you meet the requirements (I was asked for 5 years of tax returns, for example). They may also say you are not entitled because the attestazione specifically says it is for EU citizens. However, the government has issued a circular saying that they must still issue this document.
- If renewing or replacing a previous CdS, you may be asked for a €16 marca di bollo as well.
You should get a receipt after applying for the CdS. This can be used to prove exemption from EES. The receipt should have a number (numero pratica) which you can use to check the status of your card. You may also be told that you will get an SMS when the card is ready, however almost no one has received one.
How do I apply for a CdS?
The vademecum says that special PEC email addresses will be used to make appointments. These existed initially, in most places, but most now seem to have disappeared. This page is an attempt to collate information of how to apply in each province. You should not apply using the post office pack, which is for the permesso di soggiorno. Unfortunately, some people have found this is the only way of getting an appointment.
Prenota facile
Prenota Facile is a system for booking appointments with the polizia di stato. Not all questure use it. The following is a list that of those that use it. It may not be complete, so check yours. Below this, there is some information about places that use other systems for making an appointment.
- Arezzo
- Asti
- Bologna
- Caserta
- Chieti
- Firenze
- Frosinone
- Genova
- Grosseto
- Milano
- Napoli
- Novara
- Palermo
- Parma
- Piacenza
- Pisa
- Ravenna
- Rovigo
- Sassari
- Taranto
- Torino
Perugia
Perugia have their own online booking system. That also has a link to a page listing the requirements, and a form you can download and fill in before the appointment
Where can I get more information?
Vademecum per i cittadini britannici e i loro familiari residenti in Italia.
The UK government has a useful Living in Italy page.
The best place to get reliable information and advice is the Facebook group UK Citizens’ rights in Italy – Beyond Brexit (the only reason I am on Facebook).
Glossary
- Accordo di recesso tra Regno Unito e Unione europea: the Withdrawal Agreement.
- Bolletino postale: a form for making a payment via the post office (a postal order). You are given half back as a receipt for payment.
- Carta di soggiorno (CdS): residence card (note: not a permit as we don’t need permission).
- Causale: the “purpose” on a bank transfer or bolletino postale.
- EES: The EU entry/exit system. Being rolled out at the start of 2026, this will record biometric data (face and fingerprints) for visitors to the EU. Anyone resident in the EU with a residence card (carta di soggiorno in Italy) is exempt from EES.
- ETIAS: The European Travel Information and Authorisation System. ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. British tourists) travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport and valid for up to three years. Anyone resident in the EU with a residence card (carta di soggiorno in Italy) is exempt from ETIAS.
- Marca da bollo: a tax stamp available from your local tabaccaio.
- PEC: posta elettronica certificata – a type of email that provides proof of sending and of receipt. Legal equivalent of the traditional registered mail.
- Permesso di soggiorno (PdS): residence permit mainly for other “third country nationals.”
- Questura: the main police office in a province (there may be more than one for large provinces).
- Vademecum: a handbook or pocket manual – from Latin (“go with me”). Specifically, a document providing information about the CdS.
- Withdrawal agreement (WA): The Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU. This is an international treaty. No individual country (or questura) can unilaterally change the rules.